Fremantle’s DADAA is in a new partnership with Channel 7’s Telethon for 2018 and 2019.

Experience Collider is a dynamic and original arts project designed especially for teenagers with high support needs. It aims to offer young people exciting ways to build physical strength, communication skills, confidence and resilience, while developing new friendships and networks to help them connect.

“DADAA is delighted to be supported by Telethon in this innovative and collaborative arts project,” said DADAA’s Executive Director, David Doyle. “Teenagers with disability and high support needs can become socially isolated, lonely and depressed. This project will break down these barriers through quality arts participation and engagement.”

Experience Collider will also involve researchers from the Telethon Kids Institute to further their Quality of Life research program.

Experience Collider will blend digital media with dance, circus and theatre through a series of workshops over 18 months, culminating in a professional festival-style performance showcase in 2019.

This new project sees DADAA joining creative forces with Circus WA, enhancing the new creative hub activated since both organisations co-located to the historic Old Boys’ School at Princess May Park.

DADAA, the Disability in the Arts and Disadvantaged in the Arts organisation was welcomed at their new premises at the former Boys School at Fremantle’s Princess May Park by Mayor Brad Pettitt this morning.

Good to see the community arts organisation taking up the lease of the heritage building and share space with the Fremantle Foundation.

Have a look how good it already looks, although DADAA will slowly move in over the next six months as internal work still needs to be done and a new cafe will open at the back courtyard opposite Clancy’s.

Subject to Fremantle Council approving the lease conditions local not-for-profit organisation DADAA is the new tenant for the 162-year-old heritage-listed Old Boys’ School at Princess May Park.

DADAA was selected ahead of 11 other applicants to lease the building. The selection process was based on a strict set of criteria which included a demonstration of broad community benefits, financial stability and the ongoing activation of the surrounding precinct.

DADAA has indicated a variety of uses for the Old Boys’ School building focused on providing a fully accessible community art and cultural hub. Some of the uses include:

an open access community print studio and production facilities
a community cinema
arts programs aimed at school-aged children
a public café and courtyard staffed by an inclusive workforce
community access band facilities
public art galleries
academic research residency programs
an urban orchards project.

DADAA’s Chair Helen Errington, who has championed an affirmation model of disability for the organisation, said the DADAA team couldn’t wait to move into their new premises. “The very central location and inclusive nature of DADAA’s new premises at the Old Boys’ School provides a perfect setting for building a healthy and vibrant community where diversity is embraced rather than feared,” she said. “It will give people with disability a place in the community where they can flourish and be recognised as integral to the mosaic of life.”

I know the beach season is officially over but that won’t deter thousands of people to still go for a swim during autumn, winter and spring, so I was wondering what happened to the beach access wheelchair for the disabled at Bathers Beach that was bought by FICRA and stationed at the Shipwreck Museum.

Is it still there and if so, why are there no signs at Bathers Beach to indicate where people can go and grab it to allow disabled people to have a swim?

A lot of councils now use new mats to allow disabled people access to the beach, so this is something the City of Fremantle might also want to introduce at our beaches by next summer.

Over 180 people with a disability are visiting the Fremantle SCULPTURE@BATHERS exhibition this week. DADAA is doing fantastic work and it is great to see the FICRA-funded beach wheelchair getting a good work out over the last few days.

S@B is open till Sunday, so come and say hello, enjoy the sunset, have a stroll and support the work of 75 Western Australian artists. I’ll be on duty from 4-8 this evening so pop by and give me some company. ; >)

Access All Abilities held an International Day of People with Disability at the Fremantle Esplanade Youth Plaza skatepark today with disabled people playing basketball and football while some more abled kids tried what it was like to do sport in a wheelchair.